Last month we at St Philomena School began the Bicentenary Celebration of the Faithful Companions of Jesus by pledging to help our environment. We are doing this by taking advantage of our water filling stations, and recycling. In September many FCJ sisters and friends planted trees to help the environment… today we aren’t planting trees, but we are planting daffodils.
While the daffodil’s primary symbolism is that of new beginnings, rebirth and the coming of spring, it has many others. Some of the most common meanings for the daffodil flower are:
- Creativity
- Inspiration
- Renewal and Vitality
- Awareness and Inner Reflection
- Memory
- Forgiveness
The daffodil has similar uplifting meanings across cultures, probably because this bright flower appears as the cold, dark days of winter fade and the warm rays of spring appear.
China: The daffodil symbolizes good fortune in the Chinese culture. In fact, it is so esteemed for its ability to bring forth positive things that it is the official symbol of the Chinese New year.
Japan: To the Japanese people, the daffodil means joyousness.
France: In France, the daffodil is a sign of hope.
Wales: A Welsh legend claims that the person to find the first daffodil bloom will be blessed with more gold than silver in the upcoming year.
United States: In the United States, the daffodil is the official symbol for the American Cancer Association, symbolizing hope for a cure. It is also the flower for the month of March and the symbol of the 10th wedding anniversary.
A daffodil bulb that is planted today will sit in waiting for the rains and warm weather that come in spring. It will then grow into a flower next spring, a sign of new life. It is also a symbol for our school as we transition into New Life with the Network of Sacred Heart Schools.
In September, we listened to readings from the book of Genesis, ch. 2, The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and care for it, and the Letter of St. Peter that reminded us As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace….
We plant these bulbs as a reminder to us that God has placed us here to be stewards for creation and to continue to celebrate all the work the FCJ Sisters have done for our school.
Every student and teacher was sent home with a daffodil bulb to plant in your home garden in remembrance of the Sisters FCJ who started and sustain our beautiful school community. During this very special year long celebration, we pause and give thanks to God for all the blessings bestowed upon our school through the many Sisters FCJ who have sacrificed dearly and loved deeply. We pray that the flowers we plant this fall will bloom in the spring to remind us of new life and the beauty of God’s creation.
The piece if paper in each daffodil bag that the children took home read:
Please plant this daffodil bulb as a symbol of solidarity with the Sisters, FCJ as they celebrate 200 years! St. Philomena students have pledged to support our Sisters in their efforts to help the environment. Please remember to : Refuse, Reduce, Reuse and Recycle! In April, give thanks for our Sisters, the Faithful Companions of Jesus!
We plant these bulbs today as a reminder to us that God has placed us here to be stewards for creation and to continue to celebrate all the work the FCJ Sisters have done for our school.
Prayer for the Season of Creation (from Churches Together in Britain and Ireland)
Creator of Life, the Earth is full of Your creatures, and by Your wisdom You made them all. At Your word, the Earth brought forth plants yielding seeds of every kind and trees of every kind bearing fruit, the waters teemed with swarms of living creatures of every kind and the world was filled with every kind of winged bird, walking animal and creatures that creep on the ground.
Mountains, planis, rocks and rivers shelter diverse communities and through the changing seasons Your Spirit renews cycles of life. During this Season of Creation, open our eyes to see the precious diversity that is all around us.
Enlighten our minds to appreciate the delicate balance maintained by each creature. Inspire us to conserve the precious habitats that nurture this web of life. In the name of Jesus, Your son, Amen.
Follow celebrations across the world on the Bicentenary News page and on social media #FCJ200.
Read more on the history the presence of the FCJ Sisters in the Diocese of Providence.
Photo credit: © Chris Downer
